Feeder for ingot-molds.



ED sTATEs ATENT OFFICE.

FEEDER FOR INGOT-MOLDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

Application led .Tuly 1, 1916. Serial No. 107,024.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST J TURNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeders for Ingot-Molds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in feeders for ingot molds used in the manufacture of iron and steel, and has for its object the lprevention of seams and holes in the upper` end of the-ingot, known as piping; also to reduce segregation to a minimum.

A further object is to produce a feeder that will possess a certain de ee of flexibility-in that, within certain limits, a feeder of a given diameter may be used upon an ingot mold of a larger diameter or even in connection with an ingot mold of lesser diameter than the feeder and at the same time retain all the valuable characteristics of various feeders.

A still further object is to produce a feederthat contains the smallest possible amount of material that is consistent with practical results, so as to keep the cost of manufacture as low asl-possible; to produce a feeder that weighs the least 'possible amount in order to reduce freight charges; to produce a feeder that will heat quickly, especially in the manufacture of small steel ingots, as any practical feeder depends principally upon the absorption of heat by its body of refractory material from the molten metal poured through its opening or throat into the ingot mold.

Other objects and advantages will be shown in the course of the description, a practical embodiment of my invention being represented in the accompanying` drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like letters are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the feeder shown in place on the top of an ingot mold, a portion of the feeder and mold being broken away; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the feeder; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another modified form of the feeder; Fig. 5 is a per,

spective view of a further modified form, in which the ribs are replaced by projections of any desired form or number; Fig. 6 shows the feeder as illustrated by Fig. 3, broken apart and used within an ingot mold of diameter greater than the feeder; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a feeder with larger grooves than those shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings (Fig. l) represents the main'body of the feeder made of firepclay or other suitable refractory material and of a contour to it the outlines of l the bore of any ingot mold.

l cut opposite ribs B through their entirev length. The grooves G, H and G', H run directly opposite to each other, being separated by a small web W, W. --It is not my intention to limit the .number of grooves, the ones given simply being used as illustrations'and others may be added, if desired. The green clay, or other refractory material, of which my feeder is made .isnot always of the same chemical composition; nor is it possible to always get it homogeneous throughout, hence it sometimes hap-pens that, in burning, the-feeders in one kiln, will contract to a greater degree than another and the feeder will be found to it too loosely in the ingot mold. This may be overcome by splitting the feeder into two pieces along the lines of the grooves G, H and G', H by breaking the walls W, W', then pressing the partsof the feeder against the walls of the ingot mold and closing up the intervening spaces with a suitable plastic material. (Fig. 6.) By making the grooves G3, H3 rather broad, as shown in Fig. 7, the wall Ws may be easily broken away, so that the feeder may be used with an ingot mold of less diameter than the feeder. This method is to be used only in -case of an emergency. The feeder is designed to meet the wants of the trade without this extra expense of labor and materialto be used in one solid piece.

Fig. 3 shows grooves H2, G2 running parallel throughout the Whole body A of the feeder and separated by a thin web W2, but not cutting the ribs B. By a'plurality of grooves, it is possible to use one of my feeders in an ingot mold of considerably larger diameter than the feeder or of somewhat different shape, as illustrated by Fig. 6. The various pieces will be held inposition by the ribs B, while the spaces S are closed with fire clay or other suitable plastic material, making a solid feeder substantially the same as shown inl Fig. 1, and practically the only difference'being in the process of manufacture.

In practice, the feeder is placed in position on an ingot m'old, molten steel is poured through the opening or throat T until both mold and feeder are filled. The

refractory material of which the feeder is made rapidly absorbs the heat from the molten metal as it is poured through the feeder. This conservation of heat holds the upper portion of the ingot in a molten state for quite a considerable length of time, s'o that seams, holes, etc., known as piping formed by the rapid and unequal radiation of heat through the walls of the ingot mold, will be filled by the How of metal downward, thus producing steel ingots practically solid and free from piping and segregations Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A feeder for ingot molds comprising a body portion of refractory material, and

A having a bore therethrough, and ribs carried by the outer periphery of said body portion.

2. A feeder for in t molds comprising a tubular body of re ractory material, and ribs projecting outwardly therefrom.

3. A feeder `for ingot molds comprising a body portion of refractory material, and having a bore therethrough, and ribs carried by the outer periphery of said body portion adjacent its upper end.

4. A feeder for in ot molds comprising a body portion of refractory material having a bore therethrough and approximately the same thickness throughout its entire length and provided with longitudinally extending ribs on its outer face.

5. A feeder for ingot molds comprising a body portion of refractory material having a bore therethrough and approximately the same thickness throughout its entire length and provided with longitudinal ribs,

, and having their lower ends adapted to rest upon the upper end of the mold.

6. A feeder for ingot molds comprising a body portion of refractory material having a bore therethrough and approximately the same thickness throughout its entire length, and provided with longitudinal ribs on its outer face, whereby it is supported and strengthened, a portion thereof extending above the mold, the said feeder being provided with longitudinal grooves the entire length of the feeder.

In testimony whereof I aliX my signature.

ERNEST J. TURNER. 

